Passage Read: Jeremiah 25-28
Meditation Verses: 27:14-15
Thought
The false teachers and prophets don't care about the people, they only care about themselves. They tell the people what they want to hear, for rewards from the people, for fame and recognition, at the impulse of their own sinful hearts or the inciting of demonic powers. They are not sent by the Lord, though they claim to be; they are inspired by those who want the Lord to act against His chosen people. What amazes me is that the Lord didn't destroy them all so as to save His people. Instead, He forces the people to choose by faith whether to believe Jeremiah or the false prophets, who seem to outnumber God's messengers. And most of the people choose to believe the false prophets: Everything is fine, they don't have to change a thing--ensuring their doom. God could force them only to hear the truth, so that they choose to obey, but He doesn't. He sends Jeremiah and a few other prophets to go up against the false prophets who are far more popular. It looks like a losing battle, as if they were sent to fail, because God has had enough, but refuses to leave the people without a testimony to the truth.
Application
The words of God are recorded in the Bible, so anyone can know Him and His desires. But His ways are not popular, especially when compared to the message of the world, sin and Satan. People flock to the words that promise peace and joy through pursuit of fleshly, worldly desires and dreams. Few delight in God's call to complete faith and trust and submission to His ways, because His ways seem to cost so much of self. Even Jesus calls it denial of self and carrying a cross. His message can't compete with the world's. It's almost as if He intends to lose. So why bother preaching truth into the noise of lies? It seems pointless. And there's so much room for second-guessing. Am I sure I'm hearing correctly, when everyone else seems to hear happy thoughts? Jeremiah had his doubts, his questions, but he knew he was hearing from God, and his word proved to be the true one. God is still saving people, a remnant. There are still people who will hear and believe the truth, at present. And when the day comes when He is no longer turning hearts back to Himself, He'll still want and commission witnesses to testify to the truth. So whether it seems useless or not, I still need to hold to the truth, though unpopular, and speak up for the truth, though people will hate it.